NBA LOCALS
A weekly look at locals players in the NBA:
Jordan Adams, Grizzlies, Central Gwinnett High
Averaging 2.7 points in 7.4 minutes in 26 games
Al-Farouq Aminu, Mavericks, Norcross High
Has 13 games with 10-plus points and four games with 10-plus rebounds
Chris Bosh, Heat, Georgia Tech
Out for the season because of blood clots on his lung
Lorenzo Brown, Timberwolves, Centennial High
Averaged 7.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.67 steals in six consecutive starts
Will Bynum, Wizards, Georgia Tech
Had season-highs with 10 points and seven assists versus 76ers on Wednesday
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Pistons, Georgia
Averaging 15.8 points at home compared with 9.6 points on the road
Jae Crowder, Celtics, Villa Rica High
Averaging 11.9 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 27.8 minutes since the All-Star break
Derrick Favors, Jazz, Georgia Tech
Recorded 22 double-doubles this season, eight since the All-Star break
J.J. Hickson, Nuggets, Wheeler High
Averaging 7.6 points and 6.2 rebounds in 19.4 minutes in 69 games
Dwight Howard, Rockets, Southwest Atlanta Christian
Had 22 points and eight rebounds in 23 minutes at OKC on April 5
Jarrett Jack, Nets, Georgia Tech
Scored 14 points, including eight free throws, in loss to Hawks on Wednesday
Jeremy Lamb, Thunder, Norcross High
Averaging 6.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 13.9 minutes in 45 games
Jodie Meeks, Pistons, Norcross High
Averaging 10.8 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 24.2 minutes in 56 games
Anthony Morrow, Thunder, Georgia Tech
Leads team in 3-point field goals made (130) and 3-point percentage (.433)
Iman Shumpert, Cavaliers, Georgia Tech
Had 17 points versus Heat on Thursday
Josh Smith, Rockets, McEachern High
Averaging 12.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.1 steals in 79 games
Thaddeus Young, Nets, Georgia Tech
Tied season-high with 29 points versus Raptors on April 3
Lou Williams, Raptors, South Gwinnett High
Raptors are 13-3 this season when he leads them in scoring
Note: Stats through Thursday
The hallway that leads to the locker rooms in Philips Arena are adorned with large photos of current Hawks players. Last year, general manager Danny Ferry made a point to show rookie Mike Muscala his picture, one that would soon change.
Ferry pointed out a flaw in the position of Muscala’s shooting elbow in the picture. The team would work to fix that.
“He made a point to show me the photo and tell me they were taking it down so you don’t shoot like this anymore,” Muscala said. “… This summer I really, really worked hard on. It’s nice to some results.”
Muscala was a solid outside shooter coming from college and he has continued the progression. His ability to shoot makes his a good fit for the Hawks’ offensive system.
Muscala has been a tear of late. He has started three consecutive games with Paul Millsap out with a shoulder injury. In the past four games, he is shooting 21-of-25 from the field, including two 3-pointers.
“It’s impressive,” Al Horford said. “It’s a good surprise. I think I told you at the beginning of the year that I felt like he was going to be the one who was going to rise up. He really hasn’t had a chance this year but now he is and he’s making the most of it. I’m happy to see him stepping up.”
While shooting .840 from the field the past four games, Muscala is averaging 12.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.0 assists.
And that picture? It has been replaced — with a photo of Muscala driving to the basket.
No Nets sale in works
Brooklyn Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov said there have been no serious offers to sell the team, and a search for minority investors continues, but nothing is imminent.
Prokhorov was in Brooklyn last week and spoke before his team played the Hawks on Wednesday.
“I was never intending to sell the team,” Prokhorov said. “We have looked at selling on the minority stake. And for the time being, there is nothing on the table. That is the situation for the time being.”
Walker still playing
The Hornets have been plagued by injuries all season. According to the team’s public-relations staff, only once this season has coach Steve Clifford had a full 15-man roster and had to decide which two players would be inactive.
When the Hornets played the Hawks on Friday night without Al Jefferson, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Cody Zeller and Lance Stephenson, Kemba Walker was the only regular still standing.
Clifford said he had no intention of limiting the third-year guard, who missed six weeks earlier this season with a knee injury.
“The two and a half weeks that you lose when you don’t make the playoffs, it makes the offseason very long,” Clifford said. “It’s very difficult for NBA players to find quality pickup games, quite frankly. They go and play, but I want him to use these (final) games to get these details back that he has slowly been bringing back to his game.”
Quotable
“It just won’t feel right if D-Wade is sitting at home watching the playoffs. I just think, if they get in, they have a chance against Atlanta, just with the championship-caliber players that they have.”
— Tracy McGrady on playoff chances of Dwyane Wade and the Heat
“He’s a contrarian. I figured that out early. He’d ask, ‘Well why wouldn’t we do it this way?’ Sometimes I’d answer, ‘Well, which way do you want to do it?’ He’d say, ‘No, I like the way we’re doing it, I’m just asking.’ That’s a Rondo.”
— Clippers coach Doc Rivers on coach Rajon Rondo
“Steve Kerr. He’s a hell of a coach.”
— Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer on debate whether he or the Warriors' Steve Kerr should be Coach of the Year
By the numbers
730: NBA-record number of games played together by a trio of teammates set by the Spurs' Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. The threesome broke the previous mark of 729 games established by the Celtics' Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish.
13: Points, in 15 minutes, by the Pacers' Paul George in his first game since breaking his leg this summer playing for Team USA.
7: Number of players from Kentucky who will enter the NBA draft.
Carroll’s Corner
Words of wisdom from DeMarre Carroll, the man who brought you this quote from last season: “If you see me in a fight with a bear, you better help that bear.”
Following the Hawks’ win over the Suns to break the franchise record for wins in a season: “Last year I could go out to eat anywhere. I could go to the Waffle House and they didn’t know who I was. This year, it’s changed. It just shows you how much everybody is excited about the team.”
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